'Russia threatens neighbors out of weakness' says US president

(ANSA) - The Hague, March 25 - US President Barack Obama
said Tuesday Russia will face additional sanctions should it
move further into Ukraine after it annexed Crimea earlier this
month.

Speaking at a joint press conference with Dutch Premier
Mark Rutte after the third world Nuclear Security Summit (NSS),
Obama also said the US stands ready to defend its NATO allies
should the situation deteriorate.

''Europe and America are united in our support of Ukraine
and the Ukrainian people,'' Obama said, who will arrive in Rome
on Wednesday ahead of meetings with Pope Francis, Italian
President Giorgio Napolitano and Premier Matteo Renzi on
Thursday.

''Russia is a regional power that is threatening some of
its immediate neighbors, not out of strength but out of
weakness. We are concerned about further encroachment of Russia
into Ukraine''.

Obama went on to remind Russia that diplomacy is still an
option, as long as it withdraws its troops from Ukraine and
allows early elections there.
''My expectation is that if the Ukrainian people are
allowed to make their own decisions, their decision will be that
they want to have a relationship with Europe and with Russia.

This is not a zero-sum game,'' Obama went on.
''We have considerable influence over our neighbors'', he
added.
''We generally don't need to invade them in order to have a
strong cooperative relationship with them''.

''It is now up to Russia to act responsibly and to show
itself willing to abide by international law... failure to do so
will have additional costs'', including sanctions in sectors
like energy, finance, arms sales, and trade, the US president
said.

He went on to reassure America's NATO allies.

''We will act in their defense against any threats. That's
what NATO is all about. When it comes to a potential military
response, that is defined by NATO membership'', Obama said.

Crimea, a region of Ukraine, voted to secede and join
Russia on March 16.